New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-13
WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND 81 \.
DOMESTIC HELP IN GERMANY.

To the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR There is solution of the help question that is
within reach of American families provided they will
adopt one of the customs universal abroad and that
is to have the breakfast simple that one can get
ready without trouble without sOling clothes and
thus allow wellbred servant to SIT at the table With
the family.
Now let lie describe how this is done in thousands
OF families every day. The maid servant is down
stairs at in summer and in winter she lights the
fire, fires the first thing then takes the SHOES Oh
the family and brushes them. At h1li-hour later
the " lady assistant" comes down; she takes the
coffee bought burned and ground. puts II IN the
coffee pot, and while it boiling spreads the cloth on
the dining table, sets the table,, takes butter from
the pantry and the bread rolls that have just been
brought from the bakers. places them on the tdOc
with dish of plain boiled eggs aud a pot OF jam. by
this time the coffee is ready and she brings TINS III,
sends the maid to tell all the family the breakfast IS
ready and then herself goes to II her charges
the little girls of the family, who occupy the same
room that she does are ready. She sits with the
family the maid by this time ready to do the t1ing
waiting the table that l. necessary, but scarcely
ans waiting is required Tor bread and butter before
each and coffee cups are passed up by the family
After breakfast the children are OH immediately to
school with sandwich each, and this Is absolutely
all the details Of a breakfast on the Continent
During the day the mental work, such a. wip'ng mp
floors this is done daily. rugs are used on painted
floors. cmptying sOps. bringing up coal Is done ny
the maid busting the rooms. sweeping the hSht
work about the rugs, washing the dishes, making the
beds the lady assistant does in company with the
lady Of the house. she doing just enough 10 prevent
the assistant feeling n IA mcinal work.
The other meals OF the day prepared by the
assistant but she has all day TO do them and when AL
is ready She goes her gets herself r'ady and
comes 10 the table with the family being lady there
ia no difficulty In her assimiiatng with the family
she has a sisters eye the studies OF the younger
children shares with the lady OF the house tire care
taking. and ia in fact one OF the family.
Now this would be absolutely impossible II the
breakfast was d meal that required much work no
lady could feel like lady to plunge ont OF her bel
into the midst OF elaborate cookery to bee ready al
breakfast She has time to do her work and
resume her POSITION All the later work of the day l.
easily comprised without necessity OF losing her
ability to appear at mcal-time lady. This mode
OF lite ! am confident would work well i'm America
as 10 does here. Young girls when their education
is finished would gladly 90 into families where not
only wouli they learn all duties pertaining 10 house
keeping. bat save nearly all their salary, ald IN"
number ol ignorant hut necessary mcnlai- would De-
~ increased that ladies would never have t0 submit
To- Impoftinence the duties assigned 60 them would
be commensurate with their ability and LOT more than
that be expected. would NOT have - take newly
landed enigrant and i.stau Ler in Luxurious
Kitchen n ruler OF this important part o. the cstao
lishm,ut Well bred girls would not ho forced 70
earn % horrible living p, giving third rate music
lessons. ruin their health standing IN i-yonate1
school. co., stores or factories. G.. ~. I-
Tirqpg. rLirftJ. Feb. 10. l~~1.